Liberty Invite Mirrors Illini's Letdown Season

November 21, 1994|By Robert Markus, Tribune Staff Writer.

It wasn't too many years ago that Illinois was excited about a chance to go to the Liberty Bowl. When the Illini went to Memphis after the 1982 season to play Alabama in coach Bear Bryant's last game, it was their first bowl appearance in 19 years.

But when Liberty Bowl representative Jim Campbell extended the invitation that will send this year's 6-5 Illinois team to the Dec. 31 game against East Carolina, there was no jubilation.

Sure, most of the players politely said they were excited to be going. "I think by next week guys will be excited to be going to Memphis," said linebacker Kevin Hardy.

But quarterback Johnny Johnson probably spoke for more than just himself when he said: "We're going to a bowl game, but so what? If it's not the Rose Bowl, who cares?"

Johnson might have cared a bit more had the Illini defeated Wisconsin Saturday and gone to the Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa. But the 19-13 loss to the Badgers caused Illinois to lower its sights for the second time this season.

"I'm disappointed," said coach Lou Tepper. "For this team, 7-4 with the kind of losses we endured would have been a record we'd have been pleased with."

But Hardy remembers when the season began "there was Rose Bowl talk all around Champaign and it just didn't end up like that. It's a big letdown for us."

The Illini will lose at least five starters off the defense that didn't quite get them to the promised land. But Hardy, who is eligible to return, says, "We've got to get ready for the next game and worry about next year after that."

The last time Illinois played in the Liberty Bowl it went to the Rose Bowl the next season.